How Often Should You Clean Beer Lines? Why Regular Line Cleaning Matters

Clean your lines!

It might sound obvious, but keeping on top of your beer line cleaning is one of the most important parts of looking after a draught beer system.

How many times have you been to a pub and had a pint that just didn't taste as good as it should? There can be a number of reasons for poor beer quality, but the condition of the beer lines is certainly one of the things worth looking at.

Line cleaning can feel like a bit of a chore, but keeping on top of it can make a huge difference to the quality and taste of the beer, as well as helping to prevent unwanted build-up inside the lines.

How often should you clean beer lines?

As a general rule, beer lines should be cleaned at least every 7 days using a suitable beer line cleaning solution and following the manufacturer's instructions.

It can be tempting to stretch the time between cleans, particularly when everything seems to be pouring fine, but line cleaning is about preventing build-up rather than waiting until there's an obvious problem.

Getting into a regular routine makes it much easier. Pick a day, keep on top of it and don't wait until the beer starts tasting wrong or you're having dispense problems before giving the lines some attention.

What happens if beer lines aren't cleaned regularly?

Beer is travelling through your lines every time you pour a pint, so over time deposits can build up inside them if they aren't cleaned properly and regularly.

This can affect the taste and quality of the beer and can also contribute to dispense problems. Leaving it until there is an obvious problem can make things much harder to put right.

We've seen first-hand just how bad beer lines can become when regular cleaning has been neglected. We were asked to look at a dispense system at a busy bar that had been experiencing problems, and when we inspected the beer lines, their condition immediately stood out.

The lines were extremely dark and heavily discoloured, with significant visible build-up inside them. They had been left in this condition for so long that simply cleaning them wasn't enough. The affected beer lines needed to be replaced.

 

After the beer lines were replaced

Unfortunately, the lines in this system had been left for too long and were in such poor condition that replacement was the best option.

The affected beer lines were removed and replaced with new line before the system was put back into use.

It's quite an extreme example, but it shows why keeping on top of regular line cleaning is so important. A relatively straightforward maintenance job can help prevent the lines getting anywhere near this condition in the first place.

How to clean beer lines properly

The most important thing is to use a proper beer line cleaning product designed for draught dispense systems and always follow the manufacturer's instructions for dilution, contact time and rinsing.

The cleaning solution needs to make contact with all of the beer line being cleaned, and the system should then be thoroughly flushed with clean water in accordance with the cleaning product instructions before beer is put back through the line.

If you're cleaning a home bar or smaller dispense setup, you'll also need a suitable way of getting the cleaning solution through the system. Depending on your setup, this may be a beer line cleaning bottle or cleaning socket.

Important: Beer line cleaning products are chemicals and should be handled carefully. Always read the label and safety information supplied with the product, use the recommended protective equipment and never mix different cleaning chemicals together.

Keeping on top of your beer line cleaning

The easiest way to avoid problems is simply to get into a routine. Clean your beer lines regularly, use a good quality beer line cleaner at the correct dilution and don't wait until the beer tastes different or you're having dispense problems before doing it.

We use and recommend Prosan Ultra Beer Line Cleaner, which is designed for cleaning draught beer dispense systems. Whatever product you use, always follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure the system is thoroughly flushed with clean water before putting beer back through the lines.

Line cleaning might be a bit of a chore, but it's a small job that can make a big difference to the quality of your draught beer and the condition of your dispense system.

Need beer line cleaning equipment?
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